Separate Baptists of Virginia

This Day in Baptist History Past



April 01, 1734 – Joseph Murphy was born, the twin brother of William, who would become known sneeringly as “the Murphy boys.” Both were raised in an Anglican background, and both soundly converted to Christ in the Separate Baptist movement in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1757 and baptized by Rev. Shubal Stearns the founder of the famed Sandy Creek Baptist Church of N.C. There is a reference to Joseph in a book called A History of the Sandy Creek Association that says that he, “possessed a strong mind, a ready wit, a bold and fearless spirit…a heart filled with the love of God and man…he became a respected preacher throughout an extensive circle of churches.” He was once taken up in Virginia for preaching and carried before the magistrate, where he defended himself so expertly that his accusers retired in shame, and the magistrate bade him go about his business. After a successful ministry in Virginia he took charge of the Baptist church in Deep Creek, Currey County, N.C. where he became the leading minister in the Yadkin Association. At one point while pastoring in N.C. the vile Col. Fanning accused him of aiding the “Regulators”, a group of citizens who were trying to defend those who were being accused falsely by the authorities, although there was no evidence of such activity on his part. A detachment of dragoons entered his house, stole his papers, and a new pair of stockings which were the most valuable thing they saw. If they had found him no doubt he would have met the same fate as Benjamin Merrill which we will reveal on May 27. These Baptists were the enemies of “Mother Church.”

Condensed by Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History II: Cummins and Thompson, BJU Press: pp. 179-80. [George W. Purefoy, A History of the Sandy Creek Baptist Association (New York: Sheldon and Co., Publishers, 18590. p.84.]